Multiple Home WiFi Connections

The "different WiFi name" bit isn't accurate. What's happening is that Sonos relies on broadcast and/or multicast traffic in order for controllers to find the speakers, and normally these kinds of traffic don't easily traverse from one network to another without something to pass the traffic between them. By using different networks to separate your devices, that's why your controllers can't see your Sonos devices.

I know some people with more advanced network setups like yours have been able to use a tool called Avahi to bridge the gap between two (or more?) networks for some of the traffic that Sonos uses (as well as Bonjour/mDNS traffic)... not sure if that will run on your router or not, but if it can, that might be the answer.

MikeV's answer is correct. Passing broadcast and multicast traffic from one network to another is going to cause you association issues. While we don't recommend any specific network settings to accomplish this, you may be able to find third party solutions online.

As a side note, if your guest network is setup using the router’s guest network profile, it will most likely have additional security in place to prevent interaction from one network device to another. It functions like Wireless Isolation, but can’t be configured on guest networks. If that’s the case, no configuration will work other than making your own guest network instead of using the default.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Hi.
Hi.

I have a similar issue/question perhaps on a larger scale. We have 2 WiFi access points, both with the same SSID so this works fine for mobile devices switching between the two.

The problem is we have a Sonos Connect hooked up to one WiFi point and four Connect Amps on the other. The iPad with the Sonos app can only see the Sonos device(s) connected to one WiFi access point. So we get playback loss if the iPad moves from one WiFi point to the other.

I have read that a solution to this might be to use a Sonos Boost connected to one WiFi router via ethernet and then creating the SonosNet mesh network encapsulating all 5 Sonos devices.

This sounded a perfect solution until I read that the iPad cannot directly connect so SonosNet.

So I'm assuming we will still have an issue when the iPad connects to the WiFi point to which the Sonos Boost is NOT connected ie. the Sonos App now wont see any of the Sonos devices - can anyone confirm if that would be the case?

One solution would be to use an Android device and directly connect to SonosNet.

Is there any other solution for use with the iPad?

How about if the Sonos Boost is connected via ethernet to BOTH WiFi routers - would this bridge the two networks and enable the iPad to see the devices whichever WiFi point it was connected to, or would it cause more problems?

Thanks.

How about if the Sonos Boost is connected via ethernet to BOTH WiFi routers
You'll need to clarify. Are they routers or are they access points? If they're routers -- acting as routers -- they'll break your network into several IP subnets. Sonos devices and controllers must all be on the same subnet.

Let's proceed on the optimistic basis that they are not routers. How is the Sonos connected? Is it using WiFi mode (Standard Setup) or SonosNet mode (BOOST Setup)? Or when you say 'hooked up' do you actually mean the Sonos players are wired? How are the access points connected back to the main router? What would stop you from, say, wiring a BOOST to the main router?

Sorry yes my mistake with terminology, I need to clarify that for myself too.

I fairly sure they are access points. I assume they are connected back to a main router via long ethernet cabling but I'll be able to confirm later today.

Currently the Sonos devices are connected as a standard setup. The Connect is connected to WiFi1 and the four Connect Amps are connected to WiFi2. Both SSIDs are named the same. I think its all on the same subnet, but I'll do some testing today to clarify.

I am making the assumption that wiring the Boost into the main router would mean the mesh coverage not being able to reach all 5 sonos devices. But this depends on the physical location of the main router - something I need to find out. Whats the typical coverage for SonosNet mesh?

SonosNet has similar range to WiFi N, but as it's a mesh it extends itself automatically with each node acting as a relay for the others.

I suggest you find out how it's all connected and configured, and report back. The make/model of the router and the APs would be useful,

If the WiFi AP is connected the the main router via ethernet, can I not use a switch and plug the BOOST and AP into that so both are connected to the main router?

If the WiFi AP is connected the the main router via ethernet, can I not use a switch and plug the BOOST and AP into that so both are connected to the main router?
You wouldn't even need a switch, as a BOOST has two ports. Alternatively you could wire the CONNECT, and one of the CONNECT:AMPs.

You wouldn't even need a switch, as a BOOST has two ports.

Ah yes, because the BOOST has 2 switched ethernet ports.

Alternatively you could wire the CONNECT, and one of the CONNECT:AMPs.

Do you mean connect the CONNECT, and one of the CONNECT:AMPs to the main router?

I'll hopefully have a better idea of the setup after lunch and report back. Thanks for your help so far.

Do you mean connect the CONNECT, and one of the CONNECT:AMPs to the main router?
Yes. Assuming there's an Ethernet feed to the location of each AP you could wire the CONNECT and one of the CONNECT:AMPs directly. No need for a BOOST.